Ji Hoon opened the box, revealing the uniform he had received from the Ministry of Food. Today was the first round of the ICC. He began to dress, carefully examining the design and his reflection in the mirror. As he fastened the last button, his eyes caught every detail.
The uniform's design reminded him of the chef jacket from his old world, but this one was more elaborate—colored black, with gold embroidery tracing the edges. On the left chest, a name tag read Cassian Ahn. He glanced at the apron, which bore the Ministry of Food's emblem, but he didn't need it just yet.
Turning back to the mirror, Ji Hoon shifted his attention to his new haircut. His hair, once long and almost feminine, had been cut by Ione yesterday into a short, textured crop. The transformation suited him—sharp, practical, and entirely different from before.
He ran a hand through his hair, ruffling it slightly, then smiled at his reflection.
Just then, a knock on the door pulled Ji Hoon's attention away from his reflection. A familiar voice followed.
"Young master, the carriage is waiting for you."
"I'm coming!" Ji Hoon called back. He grabbed his key tag and slip, heading to the door. When he opened it, Beatrice was standing there. She gave a polite bow, and he nodded in greeting before they both started toward the carriage.
As Beatrice followed behind him, she gave him a sidelong glance.
"Are you really going to start locking your door from now on?" she asked.
"Well, if you keep entering without knocking, I just might," he shot back, his tone dry as they descended the stairs.
Beatrice grinned, clearly amused. "Fine, fine, I promise I won't. But…" Her eyes flicked to his hair, her expression shifting to surprise. "I am shocked you actually decided to cut it!"
"Oh? And why's that so surprising?" Ji Hoon asked, brushing his shorter hair absently.
"Well, obviously after the promise you made, I never thought you'd ever cut it."
"A promise?" His brows furrowed.
Beatrice blinked, then chuckled lightly. "Oh, right. I guess you still don't remember some things. After Lady Vale complimented you six years ago, telling you your hair looked amazing, you swore you'd never touch it again."
'Lady Vale… Lady Vale… AH! That fiancée girl of Cassian. Wait, he really grew it out for one compliment? Guess he must've liked her a whole lot.' Ji Hoon thought with a grimace.
As they stepped out into the courtyard, Beatrice continued, her voice softer this time.
"Well, personally, I'm glad you've changed. That woman was clearly only using you. You wasted so much money and time on her—and even ruined your reputation because of it."
She glanced at Ji Hoon, then smirked mischievously. "But now, I'm happy to see you're at least active enough to start hitting on people, huh?" she nudged him.
Ji Hoon let out a long-suffering sigh, too tired to even start explaining himself.
By the time they reached the front gate, his mother, Haide, Ione, and Wood were waiting for him. Ji Hoon's gaze flickered briefly to Ione, who avoided his eyes entirely, then shifted back to his mother, who greeted him with a warm smile.
"I told you, you didn't have to come," Ji Hoon said, his voice a mix of gratitude and exasperation. "You're already busy."
"Oh, come on. How could I not watch my son's match?" Lady Yuhwa said, her face lit with excitement. "Don't forget, we're cheering for you. Go get them, son!"
Ji Hoon's lips curved into a small smile. "Alright… I'm going with Haide first. You can come after me."
Haide stepped forward, offering a steadying hand as Ji Hoon climbed into the carriage. He waved goodbye, watching as their figures grew smaller and smaller through the tiny window while the carriage rolled forward.
The carriage clip-clopped along the cobblestone road while Ji Hoon sat inside, lost in thought, mentally running through possible dishes he could make for the competition. His concentration broke when a sudden burst of noise from outside caught his attention.
Curious, he pulled back the small curtain covering the carriage window and peered out.
The streets were livelier than he had ever seen them since arriving here. Crowds of people bustled back and forth, filling every corner of the busy street. As the carriage rolled closer to their destination, the number of people only grew, their voices rising into a chaotic hum of excitement.
Ji Hoon's brows furrowed. The sheer size of the crowd intrigued him, and after a moment, he leaned forward, calling out to Haide, who was perched on the driver's seat at the front.
"Hey, Haide! Is there, like, a festival or something going on today? What's with all the commotion?"
Haide paused to think, adjusting his grip on the reins as the horses trotted steadily forward.
"Festival…? Oh, this." A small chuckle slipped out. "These are all people coming to see the ICC. You should see how the crowd swells once we get closer to the Dome."
That answer caught Ji Hoon off guard.
He'd heard before that the ICC was popular, a spectacle people from all over came to watch. But this—this was far beyond what he expected. It wasn't just popular; it was practically a kingdom-wide obsession.
And from Haide's explanation, this was nothing compared to the size of the audience waiting at the venue itself.
But considering he heard that the competition is held by the Ministry of Food, which is under the Emperor himself, of course it would be this big.
The "Dome" Haide mentioned was the Tholus Culinarius, the legendary arena where the ICC was held. Once, long ago, it had been a massive grain storage site and a place of ancient harvest sacrifices.
Over the centuries, it had transformed into something very different: a grand stadium where cooks now battled, not with swords, but with fire, knives, and their culinary skill.
He couldn't wait to see it. But what excited him the most was the light box he had heard so much about—a device used to broadcast the competition across the entire dome using a mix of alchemy and magic.
Ji Hoon had learned that it was created by the Imperial Mages' Association in collaboration with skilled alchemists. The device combined a scrying lens engraved with recording sigils and a smooth pane of glass made from light stones.
These stones, like Ignis and Frost balls were magical stones, that could capture and release light, and using that principle, the inventors could broadcast the competition to every corner of the dome.
He felt a thrill run through him. This was the first time he would witness anything like modern "technology" in this world—magic and machinery blended in a way he had only imagined.
Soon, the carriage arrived at their destination. Haide stepped down first and extended a helping hand to Ji Hoon, guiding him down.
Haide had brought him to the back of the dome, but Ji Hoon could still see the large structure—its size rivaling Rome's Colosseum. After parting ways with Haide, who went to park the carriage, Ji Hoon approached the backdoor as instructed in the letter.
As he arrived, he saw someone he recognized. The man's face twisted into a grimace, but his eyes widened at the sight of Ji Hoon.
"Oh, aren't you the…" the man began, his voice trailing off.
It was the official Ji Hoon had seen at the preliminary rounds, still flanked by two holy knights.
"I see you're here too," Ji Hoon said, passing his key tag and slip to him.
The man froze for a moment, startled, then accepted the slip. His shock only deepened.
"So, this noble boy really passed…?" he whispered, but Ji Hoon heard him clearly. A small smile tugged at Ji Hoon's lips.
"Is it that surprising I passed?" he asked, catching the man off guard.
"O-Of course not, sir. Please… go to the room on the right. You'll find people there who will instruct you on the next steps," the man stammered, forcing a smile as he returned Ji Hoon's slip and key tag after cross-referencing them with his documents.
Ji Hoon took back his items, returning the smile. He stepped inside, ready to face what awaited him: a room filled with dessert makers that could potentially be the greatest cooks anyone had ever seen.
* * *
Meanwhile, Inside the Tholus Culinarius
After a while, the dome was completely packed, filled with people from every corner of Valeria and beyond. They came from all walks of life—peasants, merchants, and nobles alike—and from every race, from humans to demi-humans and beastfolk. The sheer diversity of the crowd made the atmosphere electric.
Knights stood at every entrance and along the inner walls, their armor gleaming under the bright lights of the arena. Their presence was a necessity; with this many people gathered in one place, a single spark of chaos could turn the event into a riot.
High above the main seats was a luxurious, private box draped in Cherry blossoms and pink dragon banners. Even from below, its importance was unmistakable—it was the Emperor's personal seating area, reserved only for the most important figure in the empire.
The nobles who had gathered around it sat in specially elevated seating area that had been built below the Emperor's room, ensuring they could view the competition without mingling—or clashing—with the rest of the crowd.
The audience buzzed with whispers and rumors, the sound like a hive of bees as excitement spread.
"I can't believe this year's theme is desserts and sweets!" one woman gasped, clutching her friend's arm.
"I heard it's completely different this time," another man whispered back. "The contestants will be judged at the highest standard—no mercy given."
"No, no, listen to this," a merchant interrupted eagerly. "They say the Ministry provided Grade A and even Grade S ingredients for the competition!"
The entire group turned to him, eyes wide.
"Grade S?! Are you kidding me?" someone exclaimed. "Most cooks never even see an ingredient like that in their entire lifetime. Giving them to a bunch of contestants—what if they ruin it?!"
"It's not a waste," a calmer voice said. "It shows how serious the Ministry is this year. They're putting everything on the line to make this event legendary."
Before the debate could grow louder, a resounding boom shook the arena.
BOOM!
A deep, resounding explosion shook the dome. Smoke burst from the center of the stage, cutting through the crowd's clamor like a blade. Silence fell instantly. Thousands of eyes fixed on the swirling mist as a figure stepped through.
As the haze cleared, gasps rippled through the arena when a stunning woman came into view.
"That—no way!" someone shouted.
"Isn't that Lady Seraphina D'Montere, the Second Rank Minister of Food?!"
"The owner of Maison D'Montere in the capital—the most prestigious restaurant in the empire!" another voice cried.
"What is someone like her doing here for the first round?!"
Lady Seraphina's sharp eyes swept over the crowd, and just her presence was enough to silence the remaining murmurs. She raised a hand with effortless grace.
She held her voice magnifier, her voice ringing out clear and commanding.
"Welcome, honored guests and spectators from Valeria and beyond, to the 34th Imperial Culinary Certification's Tournament!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, the sound crashing through the dome like a tidal wave.